The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-01
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DRIFTING.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY DRIFTING.
The intestines of the Democratic party
are at present in that disturbed and IN
easy state akin to the symptoms of cramp
collie. In fact, through the whole body
polite of the party there runs that ner-
vous tremor that is the precursor of some
mishap, some untoward change for the
worse. The party is to a certain extent
disintegrating because of the rapid
growth of commercial and industrial sec
tions of the country and the change of
ideas incident thereto, while great political
principles and truths are being forgotten
in the mad rush for riches, and the good
in sight rather than the ultimate and abid
ing benefits that lie little farther out.
A new line of trade and business activity
has been turned southwark. Mining and
manufactures are coming into the outh
ern states. And wherever a mandatory
has been established there has been
planted a republican colony. Whether these
manufacturers are northern republicans or
men of the south converted, by
the CLINT of the gold they are coming, into
republicans, it matters not-the fact re-
mains, republican protectionism has in
every such place taken root and is spread
ing its noxious influence. There is per-
version in contact, and even now in Ala
bama, the grave doubt as to the success of
Senator Morgan in gaining reelection,
shows how the republican infection has
spread.
The theory of the change of sentiment
in the south seems to be-the north
has for years benefited by the
high tariff, now it is our
turn, while our manufactures are in their
infancy, to be fostered by the
same encouraging national pro-
tection-let US continue the pro-
tective tariff and, ride the same horse
northern men have spurred to victory.
In Old Virginia the democrats have
flown the track, and in demanding a re-
peal of the revenue taxes, are alligning
themselves with the defenders of high
tariff. The democratic party is thus en-
gagged in an internecine warfare that, IN
less stopped, may prove disastrously fatal
to the cause OF democracy. But how
bridge the chasm that is daily widening
The majority of the party are still rev.
enue reformers; shall these give way to
the new hedged tariff men? Or, if not,
can the party afford to be crippled by
assertions at this time? This danger is
brewing, not in states formerly doubtfully
democratic, but in the southern states, the
home and natural stronghold of the
democracy. For the good of our great
nationality, we would like to see
the solid south broken, and
with no division lines, no north or south,
the states as union go into the discus
sion of all great political questions, not
in a sectional spirit, but as great people,
thinking and reasoning, not foolishly
biased people. But has the time for that
come yet? The south has for many years
stood up for one great principle-tarif
reforms she prepared to give up that
principle now or can she hope to win her
cause unless through united and
concerted action? The efforts of
the party in the interest
OF tariff reform have not been successful,
but defeat has been because of the defec-
ton of those democrats under the Penn
sylvania leadership, whose desertion
strangled any effectual work of that kind
in congress. If, now, to these recalcitrant
ones the south adds her quota, what hope
for the triumph of that bedrock demo-
cratic principle! The republicans still
preserve an unbroken front, and if they
are to be recruited in this way, then they
will soon obtain lease of power for
"ninety-nine years, renewable forever. +"
These are unpleasant truths, but the eyes
OF the south and the democratic party
may a. well be opened to them, while there
is yet opportunity for eform, and avoid
ing the foreshadowed calamity.